Changeable sign construction



Aug'. 5, 1969 1 A. JIMENEZ 3,458,944

CHNGEABLE SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1967 i a a a a t i l III... I'.....I I. i |Q" y J ce I ./4

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BY MME United States Patent O 3,458,944 CHANGEABLE SIGN CONSTRUCTIONLuis A. `limenez, 1315 Magotlin Ave., El Paso, Tex. 79905 Filed May 12,1967, Ser. No. 638,112 Int. Cl. G09f 7/02 U.S. Cl. 40-28 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sign, with or without a source ofillumination, for filling stations, food markets and businessestablishments. It obviates the need to store a huge reserve of letteredand numbered sign building components and saves time and labor byproviding a backing panel with distributive rows of pockets. Thischecker-board-style multiple pocket effect enables the user to placeblank inserts in predetermined pockets, to outline or delineate lettersand numerals (indicia generally speaking) and make up an onthe-spotmessage-conveying-sign.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in achangeable sign which is such in construction and adaptability that itcan be used to acceptably replace advertising signs such as are commonlybeing used, for example, at gasoline lling stations, food markets, androadside places of business. To the ends desired, the herein disclosedadaptation employs simple blank inserts in lieu of specially letteredand numbered blocks and makes it unnecessary to stock up with andhaphazardly store countless laboriously selected word and numeral blocksof one type or another for sign building needs.

Persons conversant with signs, billboards, and the like for use indoorsor outdoors are aware that signs using lettered and numbered blocks andinserts which are selectively put together to provide a display or toconvey a message or advertise service are of many and Varied types. Onetypical example of the prior art is the patent to Evans 1,117,360showing a lampbox-type illuminable sign whose front wall hassystematized holders for racking the sign building plates or blocks. Theuse of lettered as well as blank elements on a backing panel is shown ina patent to Holt 1,598,525. The patent to Kip 2,062,094 representsadditional but rather non-analogous art.

An object of the present invention is to remove upon the above namedprior patents and, in so doing, to advance the field of invention havingto do with quickchange, simplified advertising signs.

Briefly, the herein disclosed improvement is characterized by a suitablysupported panel having an indicia presenting, supporting and displayingsurface, a plurality of individual indicia laying out and delineatingelements, all of said elements being alike in form, selectively usableand interchangeable, said elements being readily applicable andremovable and susceptible of on-the-spot manual grouping and assemblingin an orderly systematic manner to make up and delineate predeterminedalphabetical letters, numerals or words constituting and presenting amessage or ad, and means on said indicia display surface capable ofsupporting said elements in coordinating readable relationship.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation showinga substantial end portion of a changeable advertising sign constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken on the plane of the section line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on a suitably enlarged scaletaken on the plane of the section line 3 3- of FIG. l.

FIG. 4is a view on a small scale showing the complete sign in elevationand showing how the put-together selectively usable block-like insertshave been appropriately tted into the receiving and retaining pockets todelineate the numeral 29.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it is to bereiterated that the concept has to do with an adapation which may beconsidered as an illuminable sign panel, that is, a cover for lampbox orthe like (not shown) or, alternatively, a non-illuminated sign. The signproper or panel may be manufactured either in sheet plastic or sheetmetal if desired but for purposes of the present explanation it isdesirable to stress the transparent feature. On the front or forwardface 10 of the panel, means is provided for attachably and detachablysupporting and temporarily retaining the multiplicity of inserts 12.More specifically, the means preferred comprises a plurality ofhorizontal and vertical rows of properly proportioned plastic pocketseach of which is denoted by the numeral 14. Each pocket is of a shapeand depth to receive the insertable and removable quick-change insert12. Each pocket has vertical spaced parallel end walls '16, a bottomwall 18 (FIG. 1) and a main flat-faced front wall 20. The upper lend ofthe pocket is open as denoted at 22. It will also be noted in FIG. 2that the median portion of the bottom wall is provided with a slot 24 tofacilitate drainage if and when water or moisture should accumulatewithin the confines of the receiver portion of the pocket. When theinsert is in place as illustrated in FIG. 2 the upper portion thereofprojects above, that is, through and beyond the mouth 22 to facilitatecatching hold of insert when applying and removing the same. It willalso be noted that the end walls 16 are substantially wedgeshaped inconfiguration. It follows that the main or front wall 20 of the pocketslopes upwardly and outwardly to provide sufficient space to facilitatethe step of applying and removing a given indicia insert 12. It isimportant to note that the insert is not equipped with letters ornumerals or any other equivalent inscription. This is to say each insertis plain or of blank form.

It is also to be noted that each row of pockets is made from anelongated strip of moldable plastic material which las shown in FIG, lhas attaching anges 26 at the respective ends which are superimposed onand bonded to the surface 10. The intermediate portions are formed intochannel-shaped ribs which are denoted at 28 and which not onlyfacilitate attachment of the pocketed strip but also define the verticalend walls of each pocket. The cross-sectional dimension of the bottomwall 18 of the pocket can be substantially equivalent to thecross-sectional thickness of the insert so that the insert will staysubstantially in the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 2. On theother hand, it will be understood that even if the insert leansforwardly to the left (FIG. 2) there will be no objection inasmuch asthe walls of the pocket are transparent and consequently the insert isvisible therethrough.

It will be noted in the invention disclosed that the signboard or signconstruction is characterized by a delineation, laying out, or outliningof letters and numbers through the medium of inserts which are plain andplaced in selected pockets in the manner shown in FIG. 4. It followsthat by referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the user haspre-planned the character which is to be displayed. Accordingly,selected inserts have been placed in predetermined pockets so that theycoact with each other in defining the two numerals 2 and 9 and whichtogether form the price of gasoline which in the instance shown is 29per gallon.

It is also to be noted that in the construction shown the inserts do nothave to be surface ornamented or predesigned inasmuch as they are all`alike and interchangeable and when properly pocketed in the mannershown in the views of the drawing the inserts, pockets and panelcooperating in providing the desired sign.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction Iand operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A manually variable readily changeable sign for use at fillingstations, food markets and the like and ernployable with or without asource of artificial illumination comprising, in combination, asupported panel made of rigid transparent sheet material having anindicia presenting, supporting and displaying surface, a plurality ofindividual indicia delineating elements, all of said elements beingalike, selectively usable, and interchangeable, said elements comprisingflat-faced relatively small panel-like inserts of corresponding size,shape and color, each insert being blank and adapted to provide acomponent part of a composite letter, numeral or design and beingselectively applicable and removable and susceptible of onthe-spotgrouping and assembling in an orderly systematic manner to conjointlymake up and delineate predetermined alphabetical letters, numerals orwords, and means on said indicia display surface capable of supportingsaid inserts in coordinating readable relationship.

2. The sign according to claim 1, and wherein the supporting means onsaid panel comprises a multiplicity of adapters fixed in oriented andcoordinating horizontal and vertical checkerboard rows on the front faceof said panel.

3. The sign defined in claim 2, and wherein each adater comprises afixed pocket defining a receiver and holder for the insert which isinserted and held therein in a letter-building position, said pocketsmade of clear transparent plastic material and being component por tionsof an elongated one piece strip of plastic material having end flangessuperimposed upon and bonded to the display surface of said panel.

4. The sign defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein each pocketis open at an upper end, has wedgeshaped end walls and a main fiat-facedfront wall which is slanted and ared forwardly at said upper end, andhas a slot in its bottom providing for drainage of water that wouldotherwise accumulate in the receiver portion of said pocket, said insertbeing of a dimension relative to the depth of the pocket that a portionof the upper edge protrudes upwardly through and beyond said open upperend to facilitate the step of applying and removing said insert, andalso wherein said insert is opaque and colorably distinctive that it iseasy for an observer to not only see the grouped inserts but tointerpret the character which is being displayed for viewing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,837 2/1896 Siebert 40-1242,041,756 5/ 1936 Gray 40-124 2,515,664 7/1950 Padgett 40132 3,084,4634/1963 Guyer et al 40-132 3,362,093 1/ 1968 Joselevich.

FOREIGN PATENTS 687,112 4/1930 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO I. CONTRERAS, AssistantExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. -140

